Line delivery mechanism for typographical machines



S". E. SPERRY May 30, 1933-.

LINE DELIVERY MECHANISM FOR TYPOGRAPHICAL MACHINES Filed Feb. 24, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Ljar/yuez ej ATTORNEY May 30, 1933. E R Y 1,911,478

LINE DELIVERY MECHANISM FOR TYPOGRAPHICAL MACHINES Filed Feb. 24, 1932 s Sheets-Sheet 2 @wuyg gg erg-y ATTORNEY ay- 30, 93 s. E. SPERRY 1,911,473

LINE DELIVERY MECHANISM FOR TYPOGRAPHICAL MACHINES' Filed Feb. 24, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR w fl ATTOR N EY Patented May 30, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SAMUEL E. SPERRY, or HOLLIS, new YORK, ASSIGNOR 'ro INTERTYPE, CORPORATIoN,

or BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION or new YORK LINE DELIVERY MECHANISM FOR TYFQGRAPHICAL MAGHINES Application filed February 24, 1932. 'Serial 110,594,853.

The present invention relates to typographical machines of the well known class wherein character bearing matrices are delivered from their places of storage in a magazine by manipulation of the keyboard and assembled into a line together with spacebands in an assembling elevator, after which the matrix line is lifted and then removed from the assembling, elevator by a line delivery slide which transfers the line to another elevator which latter presents the composed matrix line to a mold in which a type bar or slug is cast from the matrix line, and the invention relates more especially to, the matrix assembling and delivery mechanisms of machines of that general class.

The primary object of the invention is to provide improved matrix assembling and delivery means whereby the necessity of setting the usual adjustable finger on the line delivery slide to correspond with matrix lines of different lengths that may be assembled, as heretofore required, is avoided, the present invention providing means for supporting the leading or foremost matrix in any line being assembled, regardless of its length, so that such matrix will not fall over or other wise become displaced while the assembled line isxbeing lifted in the assembling elevator into position between the receiving fingers on the delivery slide or while the matrix line is being carried out of the assembling elevator by the delivery stroke of the slide.

Another object is to provide a novel line delivery slide having means constantly urging the adjustable finger thereof toward the other finger, and means for returning the adjustable finger to its fully opened position each time the slide returns to its normal or retracted position afterdelivering a line, irrespective of the length of the line previously set, for tripping said fingerwlien a new line is introduced into the slide so that said finger will close upon such line during the delivery thereof, and for holding the adjustable finger against movement toward the other finger during the transfer of the line from the delivery slide to the elevator which presents. the line to the mold. t 50 A further object of. the invention is to prolowermost position;

vide a device for supporting the leading matrix in a linein the assembling elevator, and automatic means for returning such device to the matrix receiving end of the assembling elevator after the delivery of each line.

To these and other ends, the invention consists in certain improvements and combina tions and arrangements of parts all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the features of novelty being pointed out particularly in 0 the claims at the end of the specification.

In the drawings y r Fig. 1 is a front elevation of portions of the matrix assembling and delivery mechanisms of a typographical machine embodying the present invention; Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 22 of V Fig. 1; p

Fig. 3 is a detail perspectiveview of the line delivery slide used in carrying out the present invention; V

Fig. his a top plan view, on an enlarged scale, of the assembling elevator provided with a supporting device for the foremost matrix in the lineand means for operating said device according torthe present invention; H y

Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical section through the upper portion of the assembling elevator and the operating means for the matrix supporting device as shownin Fig. 4, the assembling elevator beingshown in its Fig. 6 is'a view similar to Fig. 5, blltSllOW- ing the assembling elevator in partially lifted position duringthe lifting of the matrix line; Fig.7 isa view similar to Fig. 6, but showing the elevator in partially lowered position during its descent to normal matrix receiving position, r

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of an assembling elevator modified to embody another form of the present invention; and

Fig. 9 is a transverse vertical section through the elevator shown in Fig.- 8 and taken on the line 9-9 in saidfigure.

Similar parts are designated by the same reference characters in the different figures.

The invention is shown-in the present in- 1 0 stance applied to a typographical machine of the general class shown and described in U. S. Letters Patent N 0. 436,532 granted September 16, 1890, to O. Mergenthaler, 1 representing portions of the front of the main frame of the machine, 2 representing the socalled assembling elevator guided as usual to move vertically on the main frame from a lower matrix receiving position, as shown in Fig. 1, to an upper position which brings the matrix line in the assembling elevator into position for removal therefrom by a line delivery slide 3 and delivery by the latter to a so-called first elevator .4 which lowers the matrix line in the usual way to casting position in front of a mole in which a type bar or slug is cast against the matrix line. 5 repre sents the usual assembler star wheel which receives the matrices'released by the usual keyboard from the magazine and stacks the matrices in the assembling elevator together wi h the usual spacebands which are delivered to the line in course of assembly through a chute The assembling'elevator may be lifted, a ter receiving a matrix line, into position for the removal of such line therefrom by the line delivery slide and then lowered or returned to its normal matrix receiving position, by the means commonly used in machines of this class, and the line delivery slide may be reciprocated to remove the matrix line from the assembling elevator and deliver it to the first elevator and to return it to its normal or retracted position as shown in Fig. 1, by the usual lever 7 which is connected to the delivery slide by a link 8 and may be operated at appropriate intervals under control of a cam on the machine, as'usual.

The assembling elevator, according to the present invention as shown in Figs. 1 to 7 in elusive, comprises the usual front and rear walls or jaws 9 and 10 which form a channel between them to receive the matrices M and also the usual spacebands to compose the matrix line, these walls .of the assembling elevator in the present instance being-formed with rails 11 on which the matrices may be assembled at a lower level and the front wall Sbeing provided with a r'etrctible' rail 12 at a relatively higher level and on which the matrices may beassembled at an upper level,

' the elevator being thus adapted for the as-j.

sembling' of the usual two-letter matrices in the usual and well'known way. 13 represents the upwardly projecting finger on the usual assembler slide, this finger being engaged by the leading or .foremost matrix in the line and being advanced in the usual way by the advance of the matrix line as the composition thereof'procecds,in the usual manher, it being understood that the assembler slide is mounted on the stationary frame of the machine so that when the assembling elevator is lifted, the matrix line is carried out of engagement with the assembler slide.

According to the present invention as shown in Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive, the top of the rear wall 10 of the assembling elevator is recessed longitudinally from a point near its right hand or matrix receiving end to a'point near its left hand; or matrix delivery end, and a plate 14 is secured to the top of the rear wall 10 by screws 15 or other suitable means, a longitudinal slot being thus formed between the top of tne wall 10 and the plate 14.- and between the ends of the rear wall 10 in which a slide 16 lits and may reciprocate. The forward or inner end of this slide is provided with an upturned lug or finger 17 which projects into the matrix channel of the assembling elevator, it being preferably located at a level to be engaged by the upperrear earof the leading or foremost matrix in the line, as shown. The slide 16 projects rearwardly beyond the back of the wall 10 and has an upwardly projecting pin 18 secured thereto, this pin beinn movable length wise of a slot 19 which is formed longitudinally between the body portion of the plate 14: and a finger 20 which is preferably formed integrally with said plate one end and is offset so that it lies in a plane above the plate 14, the end of the vertical slot 19 toward the matrix delivery endof the elevator being curved or offset r-arwardiy, shown at 19. The inner side of the rear wall 10 of the elevator along which the lu or finger 17 travels is provided, near the matrix delivery end of the elevator, with a recess 21 into-which the lug or iingerl'? may be drawn when the pin 18 enters the rearwardly offset portion 19 of its guidin 's'lot, thereby removing the lug orfinger 17 from the path of the matrix line so that the latter may be removed, without obstruction, from the assembling elevator. It will be understood that the slide 16 will be shifted from'a position at or near the left hand or matrix receiving end of the assembling elevator, as shown by the full. lines in Fig. {l, toward the left or-linedliv ery ehd of the elevator during theassemblingi of the matrices in the assembling elevator-to fern each line, due to the engagement of the-leading or foremost natrix in the line with the lug or-finger 17' on the slide, the slide being maintained inoperative position. and properly guided at this time by the riding of. the pin 18 thereon against the forward edge of the finger 20 and by .a roller 22 which is mounted on a longitudinally extending. arm form ing part of the slide, this roller-riding against the rear edge of the plate-14 as the-slideis pushed longitudinally beneath the plate l t by the advanceof the leadingmatri line, the pin 18 and roller22 maintaining the linger or lug 1? in the path of the leading matrix in the lineuntil the pin- 18 reaches and enters the rearwardly ofi setportion'illl of its in the guiding slot, the relative pivoting movement ofthe slide 16 thereby produced causing the lug or finger '17 to enter the recess 21 and thus clear the matrix channel.

7 Means is provided for returning the slide 16 to its normal position at the right hand or matrix receiving end of the assembling elevator after the removal of each matrix line therefrom, and preferably such means is operated automatically by the movement of the assembling elevator. Such means consists, asshown in the present instance, of a. gravity pawl 24 which is pivoted to rock by its own weight on a horizontal ,pivot pin 25 supported on a lug 26 projecting rearwardly from the slide 16, so that it will normally occupy the position shown in Fig. 5. The pawl 24 is provided with a rearwardly extending arm 27 which is arranged to cooperate with the upper rear corner 28 of the lug 26 to limit the rearward swing of the pawl so that it cannot swing beyond the position shown in Fig. 5 but permitting the pawl to swing forwardly into the position shown in Fig. 6. cam plate 29 is secured to the stationary frame 1, as by screws 30, so that it occupies a position in rear of the assembling elevator, this cam plate having an inclined edge.

31 which slopes downwardly toward the matrix receiving end of the assembling elevator when the latter is in its normal matrix receiving position. The rearwardly extending arm 27 of the gravity pawl 24 projects rearwardly into the plane of the cam plate 29 so that when the assembling elevator is lifted, the arm 27 will engage the forward face of the plate 29 thereby rocking the gravity pawl into the position shown in Fig. 6 and the pawl will then ride idly over the face of the cam plate until the arm 27 passes above the inclined edge 31, whereupon the pawl will swingby gravity into the position shown in Fig. 7, and the following descent of the assembling elevator back to its normal or lowered position will causethe arm 27 on the pawl to rideon the inclined edge 31, thereby causing the slide 16 to which it is attached torbe shifted longitudinally of the assembling elevator, from a positionat or toward the line delivery end thereof to its right hand or matrix receiving end, the arm 27 finally passingofl the lowervend of the inclined edge 31 so that it clears the cam plate 29, and the arm 27 will then be free ,to move horizontally beneath the cam plate during its advance incident to the composition of the next following matrix line. The corner of'the arm 27 which rideson the inclined edge 31 of the cam plate is preferably bevelled, as shown at 32, to provide a suitable bearing surface.

The line delivery slide 3 comprises, as usual, a bar 33 .to which the link 8 is connected and by which it is reciprocated, this bar .having slide blocks 34 at its endswhi'ch are slidable in a relatively fixed guide 35 forming part of the frame ofithemachine, a matrix engaging short finger 36 which is carried by ,a slide block 37 also movable in the guide 35 and connected by a bar 38 to the main bar 33, and a matrix engaging long finger 39 which is carried by a slide block 40 reciprocable in the guide 35 so that the long finger is movable toward and from the short finger 36. v e

According to the present invention, a tension spring 47 connected at one end to the main slide bar 33 and at its other end to the longfinger slide block 40, acts to constantly but yieldinglyurge the long finger 39 toward the short finger 36. The slide block carrying the short finger 36 has a ratchet-toothed bar 41 secured to it, this bar being freely movable endwise through an aperture in theupper portion of the long finger,and the slide block 40 has a vertically movable gravity latch 42 pivoted to it at 43 so that said latch may ride idly over the upper toothed edge of the bar 41 to permit movement of the A long finger away from the short finger, and

may swing out of engagement with said bar to permit movement of the long finger toward the short finger and into engagement with one or another of the notches in said bar and thereby prevent movement of the long finger 39 toward the short finger. 36 under the tension of the spring 47. A pin orother suitable stop 60 is fixed to the front of the guide 35 or other suitable stationary part of the main frame in the path of a lug 61 which projects upwardly from the long finger 39, this stop being located in such a position that it will be engaged by said lug when the long finger reaches its normal fully-open position during the right-hand or return stroke of the line delivery slide, so that the long finger will be held by the stop 60 against the tension of the spring 47 while the slide completes its return stroke and thereby returns the short finger'36 to its extreme right-hand or normal position, so that the long and shortfingers will be brought into fully-open condition above the assembling elevator and will be capable of receiving therefrom a matrix line of any length up to one of full measure, each time the line delivery slide returns to its normalposition, as shown in Fig. 1. The delivery slide is retained in its normal or retracted position by the usual pivoted detent 44one end of whichis arranged to engage the short finger 36 and the other end of which is engageableby the assembling elevator as against movement toward the short finger under the action of the spring 47, thus preventing dragging of the matrix line backwardly out of the first elevator by the long finger as soon as the rear end of the line has left its support against the short finger incident to the descent of the first elevator following the reception of the line. For this 7 purpose, the latch 42 is located with its forward or free end in the path of a suitable tripping device, such as a finger 62 fixed on and projecting upwardly from the assembling elevator so that when the latter approaches the upper limit of its ascent, prior to the release of the delivery slide by tripping ,pf the detent 44 and while the finger 39 rests against the stop 60, the finger 62 will lift and thereby disengage the latch 42 from the bar 41, and wnile said latch is so held in disengaged position, and the assembling elevator is held in its fully raised position by the latch 45, the delivery slide,

tripped by the lifting of the assembling elevator, commences its line delivery stroke. By this arrangement, while the delivery slide occupies its normal retracted position, as

. shown in Fig. 1, the latch 42 will rest by gravity on the toothed bar 41 and will be in looking relation therewith, but when the assembling elevator is lifted to introduce a matrix line into the delivery slide, the finger 62 on the elevator will engage and lift the latch 42 as the assembling elevator approaches the limit of its upward movement, and the following final portion of the upward movement of the assembling elevator causes it to trip the detent 44 and thus release the line delivery slide. When the delivery slide is released, the short finger 36 moves toward the long finger 39, the latter being then unlocked from the notched bar 41 by the previ ous lifting of the latch 42 and resting against the stop 60, until the leading or foremost matrix in the line contacts with the long finger 39, the long finger being held by the spring 47 against the stop 60 until such finger is picked up by the matrix line whereupon the long finger 39 and the short finger 36 will advance in unison the matrix line be ing confined between the fingers and over riding of the long finger being prevented by the pull of the spring 47. The consequent advance of the long finger 39 will carry the latch 42 off of the finger 62, said latch then dropping by gravity into position to engage the perpendicular or locking side'of a tooth on the upper edge of the bar 41 and thereby locking the long finger 39 against movement toward the short finger 36 under the pull of the spring 47 when the matrix line is lowered below the short finger by the descent of the first elevator 4 following the transfer of the line thereto, so that the line,

39 will come to rest in a position opposite to the line discharge end of the assembling elevator irrespective of the length of the line which has been delivered by the slide, but the short finger 36 and the portion of the delivery slide to which it is attached will continue to move back to normal or retracted position until it is fully retracted and held by the detent 44, such being permitted by the idle riding of the latch 42 over the in clined sides of the ratchet teeth on the bar 41 and the stretching of the spring 47 the short and long fingers 36 andp39 being then opened or separated to their full extent.

The operation of the matrix assembling and delivery mechanisms constructed as hereinbefore described is as follows: a

As the matrices M are assembled in the usual manner on either the lower or upper rails 11 or 12 in the assembling elevator, the upper rear ear of the leading or foremost matrix in the line will bank against the lug or finger '17 on the slide 16, and as thismatrix advances in consequence of the assembling of the matrices in the line behind it, it will advance or move the slide 16 toward the left (Fig. 4) until a matrix line of the desired length has been set. Thereupon, the-assembling-elevator is raised in the usual manner to lift the matrix line between the fingers 36 and 39 which depend from the line delivery slide, and while the lifting of the matrix line removes the leading or foremost matrix therein from the'supporting finger 13 of 'the assembler slide, this leading or foremost matrix will be supported against falling over or other displacement from the end of the line by the lug or finger 17 of the slide 16 against which this matrix rests. During the raising of the assembling elevator to lift the line for removal therefrom, the rearwardly proand ride against the face of the cam plate 29, the pawl 24 being thus tilted into the position shown in Fig. 6 so that'this pawl will ride idly over the camplate 29 until the assembling elevator has been raised suificient- 1y high to carry the arm 27 upwardly past the inclined edge 31 of the cam plate, whereupon the gravity pawl 2 1 swings by gravity into the position shown invFig. 7 the arm 27 of the pawl then overlying the inclined edge 31 of the cam plate. When the assembling elevator approaches-its highest point, the latch 42 is lifted by the finger 62, thereby unlocking the long finger-39 from the bar 11, after which the delivery slide is released by thedetent e land the delivery slide then moves toward the left in Fig. 1, the short finger 36 engagingthe rear end ofthe line in the assembling elevator and advancing the line until the foremost matrixcomes into en gagement with the long finger 39, following which the long finger is picked up and caused to advance in unisonCwith the short finger and the latch 42 on the long finger is thus carried from above the finger 62 on the assembling elevator and thus drops on to and becomes engaged with the ratchet bar 41 in the manner already described after which the assembling elevator is released for descent to its normal lowered position by tripping of the latch 4:5 by the short finger 36. After the delivery slide has delivered the matrix 'line to the usual first elevator 1, the latter descends, as usual, to carry the line to casting position, and although the spring 47 constantly acts on the long finger to urge it toward the short finger, such movement of the long finger toward the short finger, as soon as the rear end of the line has been lowered below the short finger by the descent of the first elevator, will be prevented by the latch 42 which then. engages the ratchet bar 41, so that the matrix line will not be dragged back out of the first elevator, as hereinbefore explained. hen the delivery slide is retracted or returned to its normalposition, the short finger 36 is returned to its fully retracted position as shown in Fig. 1 and the long finger 39 is returned therewith by the pull of the spring 47 until it reaches and is arrested in its fully opened position as shown in Fig. 1 by itsengagement with the stop60, the latch 12 riding idly over the ratchet bar 41 after the long fingerrhas come to rest against said stop while the delivery slide and the short finger continue-their return to normal or fully retracted position;

By providing the above described means, guided longitudinally along the channel of the elevator or member in which the matrices are being assembled and which serves to support the leading or foremost matrix in the line when the latter is raised and thus removed from the usual support on the assembler slide, the necessity of positioning the adjustable finger on the delivery slide-in accordance withthe measure or length of the line being set, as heretofore required, is ob Viated, thus saving the time of the operator 7 and increasing the convenience in the operation of the machme. As the assembling elevator is lowered to return it to its normal matrix receiving position, the rearwardly projecting arm 27 overlying, the inclined cam edge 31 of the cam plate 29 will ride downwardly on this inclined edge, with the result that the slide 16 will be returned to the right hand or matrix receiving end of the assembling elevator, as shown by the full lines in Fig. 4, ready to cooperate with-the leading or foremost matrix. in the next line to be set in the assembling elevator, the ma trix supporting lug or finger 17 being thus reset automatically following the delivery of each matrix linefrom the assembling elevator, irrespective of thelength of the line previously delivered and accommodating itself automaticallyto the length of the next line to be set. r a

Vihen a matrix line of full measure and which occupies the full length of the assembling elevator is set, the slide 16 will be advanced toward the left 1), by the introduction of the matrices into the line,

until the lug or finger 17 reaches the recess 21 and the in 18 enters the rearwardly curved oro set portion 19 of the slot 19, the slide 16 being therebycaused to pivot or swingabout the roller 22 so that the lug or finger 17 enters the recess '21, the lug or finger 17; being thus carried into a position where it will clear the lower end of the long finger 39 of the delivery slide during the lifting of the assemblinggelevator. While the lug or finger 17 will thengbe, removed from its supporting position with respectto the foremost matrix in the'line, such matrix,

in the case o'f full length-lines, will not require support from the lug or finger 17 since the long finger 3901? the deliveryslide ex tends downwardly to asufficient extent-to support this matrix as soon as thematrix line is raised above the assembler slide finger 13. WVhile assembling matrix lines of shorter lengths in the assembling elevator, however, the lugor finger 17 will not be advanced by the assembling line as far as the .recess21 but will remain in engagement with .the upper rear ear of the leading or foremost matrix in the line and will thereby support this matrix against falling over or other displacement from the end of the line whilethe latter is being lifted into position for delivery. In such case, the lug or ear-17will be advanced to the point where it enters the recess 21 by the first part of the delivery movement of the line under the action of the short finger 36 of the delivery slide, the lug or finger 17 being thereby removed from the path of the line so that it may advance, without obstruction, into engagement with the long finger 39, as hereinbefore described. I

Figs. 8 and 9 show alternative means for providing support for the leading or foremost matrix in a line being assembled in the elevator, such means comprising, instead of the movable slide 16 previously described, flexible or yieldably pressed rails 48 and 49 which are pressed inwardly from the rear and front walls of the assembling elevator by springs 50 and 51 and guided by slidable pins 52 and 53 so that they project into the matrix channel from the opposite sides there- 7 of, preferably at a level below the upper ears of the matrices whether the latter are assembled on the lower rails 11 or the upper matrices.

rail 12. These rails 48 and 49 are preferably pressed inwardly with equal force so that the matrices passing between them will be in preventing tilting over of the matrices to any appreciable extent.

The means shown in Figs. Sand 9 for frictionally engaging the matrices in the matrix line in the assembling elevator will prevent falling over or other displacement of the leadingcor foremost matrix in the line during the liftingthereof into position for delivery, and such means is adapted to be used in'conjunction with the line delivery slide constructed and operating as hereinbefore described, the necessity of setting the adjustable finger of the delivery slide to conform with the length .of the matrix line to be set being also rendered unnecessary in this modified arrangement, since the frictional holding of the matrices in proper position, including the foremost matrix in the line, enables the line assembled in the assembling elevator to. be

. properly received between the fingers of the delivery slide, irrespective of the length of the line-and notwithstanding that the fingers of the delivery slide are in their fully opened position.

I claim as my invention 1. In a typographical machine having a matrix line'assembling member and a reciprocatory line delivery slide to receive a matrix line from said assembling member, said slide having a pair of matrix line delivering fingers which are relatively adjustable to accommodate between them matrix lines of different lengths, means for relatively separating said fingers to their fully opened position during eachreturn of said slide to normal position, means for closing said fingers against a line received from said assembling member, means for removing a matrix line from between said fingers, and means for locking said fingers against relative closing movement during the removal of the matrix line therefrom.

2. In a typographical machine having a matrix line assembling membrr and a reciprocatory line delivery slide to receive a matrix line therefrom, said slide having a pair of matrix line engaging fingers one of which is adjustable toward and from the other to conform with matrix lines of different lengths, means tending to move the adjustablefinger toward the other finger, means forholding said adjustable finger against movementtoward the other finger, and means for releasing said holding means while a matrix lin'eis being-receivedby the delivery slide and for subsequently rendering said holding means operative to hold the adj ustablefinger against movement toward the other finger while the matrix line is between said fingers.

3. In a typographical machine having'a matrix line assembling member and a reciprocatoryline delivery slide to receive a matrix line therefrom, said slide having a pair of matrix line engaging fingers which are rela tively adjustable toward andfrom one another to accommodate matrix lines of different lengths between them, means tending to relatively move said fingers toward one another to close against a matrix line, means for locking said fingers against relative closing movement, and. means controlled by said assembling member for rendering -said-=locking means inactive during the transfer of a matrix line to the delivery slide and for subsequently rendering said locking means ac tive to prevent relative closing of said fingers while the matrix line is between said fingers.

4. In a typographical .inachine having a matrix line assembling member, a recipro catory line delivery slide to removea matrix line therefrom, and a transporting member to remove the matrixli-ne from the. delivery slide, said slide having a pair of matrix line engaging fingers one of which is adjustable to conform with matrix lines of different lengths, means constantly acting to move the adjustable finger toward the other finger, means for holding said adjustable finger against movement toward the other finger, means for relatively separating said-fingers prior to their reception of a matrix line from the assembling member, and means for rendering said holding means inactive during the removal of a matrix line from the assembling member by the delivery slide to permit movement of theadjustable finger toward the other finger, said holding means being active during removal of such line from the delivery slide by saidtransport ing member to prevent movement of the'adjustable finger toward the other finger.

5. In a typographical machine having a matrix line assembling member and a reciprocatory line delivery slide to remove a matrix line therefrom, said slide having a pair of matrix line engaging fingers one of which is adjustable toward the other to conform with matrix lines of different lengths, means constantly acting to move the adjustable finger toward the other finger, a ratchetbar connected to one of the fingers, a latch connected to the other finger and engageable with the ratchet-bar to hold the adjustable finger against movement toward the other finger but permitting movement of the ad justable finger from the other finger, a stop located in the path of said adjustable finger and cooperative therewith to arrest its movement when it reaches its fully opened position during the return of said slide to normal position, and means controlled by said assembling member for disengaging said latch from said ratchet bar during the removal of a matrix line from the assembling member and for subsequently causing engagement of said latch with said bar.

6. In a typographical machine having an assembling elevator and a reciprocatory line delivery slide for delivering a matrix line lifted by said elevator, said slide having line engaging fingers one of which is adjustable relatively to the other to conform with matrix lines of different lengths, means for returning said adjustable finger to its fully opened position during each return of said slide to normal position, and means for supporting against displacement the leading matrix in a line in said elevator while the latter is lifting the line into position between said fingers.

7. In a typographical machine having an elevator to receive matrices and to transport such matrices for discharge therefrom, a member movable longitudinally of the matrix receiving portion of the elevator and engageable by the leading matrix in a line therein to support such matrix against displacement, said member being movable toward the matrix discharge end of the elevator by the advance of said matrix, and means operative during movement of the elevator toward matrix receiving position for returning said member toward the matrix receiving end of the elevator.

8. In a typographical machine having an elevator to receive matrices and to transport such matrices for discharge therefrom, a member movable longitudinally of the matrix receiving portion of the elevator and engage able by the leading matrix in a line therein to support such matrix against displacement, said member being movable toward the ma trix discharge end of the elevator by the advance of said matrix, and means, including a part carried by the elevator and operative by the movement thereof toward matrix receiving position, for returning said member toward the matrix receiving end of the elevator.

9. In a typographical machine having an elevator to receive matrices and to transport the same for discharge therefrom, a member movable longitudinally of the matrix receiving portion of the elevator and engageable'by the leadingmatrix in a line therein to sup port such matrix against displacement, said member being movable toward the matrix discharge end of the elevator by the advance of said matrix,a pawl connected to said member, and means cooperative with said pawl during movement of the elevator to return said member toward the matrix receiving end of the elevator. I

10. In a typographical machinehaving an elevator to receive matrices and to transport them for discharge therefrom, a member movable longitudinally of the matrix receiving portion of the elevator and engageable by the leading matrix in a line therein to sup: port such matrix against displacement, said member being movable toward the matrix discharge end of the elevator by the advance of said matrix, and cam means cooperative with said member during movement-0f the elevator to return said member toward the matrix receiving end of the elevator.

11. In a typographical machine having an elevator to receive matrices and to transport them for discharge therefrom, a member movable longitudinally of the matrix receiving portion of the elevator and engageable by the leading matrix in a line therein to support such matrix against displacement, said member being movable toward the matrix discharge end of the elevator by the advance of said matrix, a gravity pawl connected to said member, and a cam located at a side of the path of movement of the elevator, said pawl passing said cam idly during movement too of the elevator toward matrix discharging position and cooperating with said cam during movement of the elevator toward matrix receiving position to return said member toward the matrix receiving end of the elevator. 12. In a typographical machine having an elevator to receive matrices and to transport them for discharge therefrom, a member movable longitudinally of the matrix receiving portion of the elevator and engageable by the leading matrix in a line therein to sup port such matrix against displacement, said member being movable toward the matrix discharge end of the elevator by the advance of such matrix, a gravity pawl connected to said member, and a cam located at a side of the path of movement of the elevator and having an inclined edge, said pawl being movable into inoperative position relatively to said cam during movement of the elevator toward matrix discharging position and movable into cooperative relation with said inclined edge of the cam during movement of the elevator toward matrix receiving position to return said member toward the matrix receiving end of the elevator.

13. In a typographical machine, an elevator to receive matrices and to transport them for delivery therefrom, said elevator having a matrix receiving channel therein provided with a recess in a side Wall thereof toward its matrix discharge end, a member slidable longitudinally in said channel and e cooperative With a matrix at the end of a matrix line therein to support such matrix against displacement from the end of the line, and means for guiding said member laterally into said recess.

14. In a typographical machine, an elevator to receive matrices having ears at the upper corners of their bodies and to transport them for delivery therefrom, said elevator having a channel to receive a line of such matrices and support them for movement longitudinally therein, and rails yieldingly pressed inwardly from the opposed side Walls of said channel and engageable With the respective eoges of the body of the leading matrix in the line therein below said ears of such matrix.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

'SAMUEL E. SPERRY. 

